10 things you must know about breastfeeding

Here are 10 amazing things you must know about breastfeeding especially if you are a nursing mum.

Breast milk is so healthy: Breastfeeding might not be your thing but it’s still advisable for you to know the benefits. Breast milk contains antibodies that can’t be manufactured in a food factory. According to Jim Sears, Co Author of The Baby Book Breastfed babies tend to get fewer colds, sinus and ear infections compared to babies that aren’t breastfed. Breastfed babies also have less diarrhea and constipation as well as decreased chance of having allergies.

You will end up healthier too: Trust us, your child is not just the only one benefiting from you when you breastfeed him or her. You are also receiving help as well as breastfeeding helps ward off breast and ovarian cancers. The physical contact also help you bond with your baby and in turn forces you to sit still and focus on nurturing. Dr. Sears says that breastfeeding releases “mothering hormones” like prolactin, which helps keep the baby blues at bay, and oxytocin, which helps the uterus contract.

Breastfeeding is tough at the beginning: If you can, consider a breastfeeding class while you are pregnant. According to Kotlen Nagin, a lactation consultant in Larchmont, New York. Ask for help in the hospital as getting baby to latch on may not feel natural. Sincerely, those first days you will feel what experts call extreme tenderness and pain. But, if the baby is properly latched then discomfort should reduce during the nursing session. Once you notice any shooting pain; or a knot in the breast accompanied by soreness as well as redness ensure you reach out to a doctor as it can lead to mastitis, a very nasty infection that requires antibiotics.

Breastfeeding saves money: Considering the amount of money used in purchasing formulas, you can actually save more by breastfeeding, as you don’t need to buy a formula. More so, your child is benefiting from breastfeeding and you are also benefiting.

You are the food supply, so nurture yourself: You need to keep yourself healthy, you need to watch what to eat and what not to eat. Ensure you take vitamins, get ample calcium and drink at least 64 ounce of water a day. A mom needs to stay hydrated and well fed says Jane Crouse, a La Leche League leader and mother of three. You’ll also be needing an extra 300-500 calories daily and rest appropriately.

Breastfeeding can be blissfully convenient: You don’t need to run to a store at the middle of the night, you don’t need to warm any formula. Breast milk is instantly available at every point in time and it’s not just available and cold, it’s always warm. You can now travel light, as you don’t need to take as much formulas with you as possible.

Breast milk and formula is an option: Breastfeeding and at the same time using formulas can be very helpful. Take for an example you work 8hours a day and once you get back from work, you feel like feeding your baby, you’ll need to cut yourself some slack and use a formula instead. It gives time for you to regain the strengths you’ve lost.

Women at times, pump milk, and for all kinds of reasons: take for example your baby wakes up early in the morning filled with milk; you don’t need to feed him or her right away. Rather, bottle it up for later. You can as well fill a bottle and let daddy handle the midnight feed sometimes. Just in case you work during the day, you during your time-outs, you can fill a bottle for your baby or even breastfeed him. This however depends on the circumstance at that point in time. You can always consult someone with experience at your work place.

Eventually, it’s over: At times, baby quits sucking, or you burn out first. At this point, you can always source other means such as feeding through bottle or cup. Dr. Sears says, “If weaning results in a happy mum, that’s best for baby”.

We’re all different: Do your best and move on. You might probably not be able to through all the process but you can as well do what you can and leave the rest.

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